are you out of line on this posting?

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

a personnal attack of someone just because they want to run for office, ethical? I think not. If I have to explain any further, then I guess it would be fruitless.

he voted in 3 of 5 past Republican primaries?  That he kicks off by repeating Republican talking points against Mark Warner, who most of us strongly support?  Hmmmm.

I just don't see much of a record there, nothing on the issues, just an attack on Mark Warner (and yes, that pisses me off).

Julien Modica used to be Jullen Dicks.  Check this out:

A Charlottesville man who survived a life-threatening head injury in high school and now heads a national head injury foundation avoided a 14-month prison sentence for bank fraud Monday - thanks to a rambling plea for leniency.

Instead, U.S. District Judge James Turk sentenced Julien Dilks, 35, to 10 days in jail and four years of supervised release after he gets out. Turk also ordered Dilks to repay the $22,508.30 he swindled from two banks and fined him $2,500.

Turk admitted that he came into court intending to impose a 14-month sentence, but changed his mind after Dilks accepted responsibility for his crime and said it wouldn't happen again.

"I have sat in church for hours just wondering what I can do," he told the judge. "I'm sorry it happened ... but there's nothing I can do except pay the money back."

Dilks, now 35, was a high school sophomore in 1976 when a pole-vaulting accident left him in a coma for 13 days. He made a "miraculous" recovery from the accident and went on to earn a master's degree in physics.

In 1987, Dilks founded the JMA Head Injury Foundation in Washington, D.C., which has a mission statement to help head injury victims "by working to modify the current trial-and-error method approach to rehabilitation."

In 1992, however, Dilks devised a bank fraud scheme to help finance the group, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Eckert said.

Eckert said Dilks had numerous checking accounts in banks from Charlottesville to Washington. He would increase the balance of an account at Jefferson National Bank in Charlottesville by writing checks on other empty accounts in his name.

He would then withdraw money from Jefferson National before the checks could bounce.

"He was stealing with a fountain pen," Eckert said.

Eckert said Dilks stole just over $12,100 from Jefferson National and about $10,400 from First America Bank - now First Union National Bank - in Northern Virginia.

Turk convicted Dilks on the one-count fraud indictment in July. The case was heard in Roanoke's federal court.

Monday, the judge at first seemed adamant that Dilks would spend at least a year in prison. But that changed after Dilks told the judge that he wouldn't be able to pay back the money if he was in prison.

"I'm very good at what I do; I'm regarded as a national leader when it comes to brain injuries," he said. "I do well at trying to help people who have suffered injuries similar to mine. ... I'm just not a financial wizard."

How can a felon run for the senate in VA?

Can he even vote?

Does anyone have the answer?

By the way, I favor restoring full voting rights for ex-felons.

Read my blog below, "are you out of your mind?"

...Should have the right to seek elective office even if they haven't amassed an extensive resume available via a Google Search.  And having given money to political candidates shouldn't be a prerequisite either.   Some of us contribute, but many are (rightfully) cynical about the whole rotten system.  As much as I admire and respect Mark Warner, I don't think it's fair to criticize anyone for having the guts to put his or her hat into the ring.   It's a slippery slope in a free democracy (in my view) for us to admonish people who challenge popular figures.  That leads to bad things.

and I wish him luck.  I'm just wondering why he's doing it, what's the rationale.  I mean, obviously he can't beat Mark Warner, so there must be something else going on here.

I want Mark Warner to win the nomination without spending a dime.  Therefore, I wish this guy's campaign very bad luck.

Just saying what everyone is thinking....

n/t

I'm no election law expert, but I'm not sure that promoting your candidacy on your non-profit's webpage is entirely within FEC regulations.  JMA's website states that they're a national non-profit educational organization, which I believe prohibits them from engaging in directly advocating or advertising for a particular candidate.  Maybe someone else knows better, but I think that would be a very good way to lose your non-profit and tax-exempt status.

n/t

to me. Is that the entire video? I could make no sense out of it.

You'll have to ask Mr. Modica for an explanation.

Frankly I agree. Every ordinary citizen has the right to do whatever they please. Including running again Mark Warner. However, I don't like individuals who are completely unrealistic. At the end of the day, Politics runs off of realism not idealistic ambition. What could possibly happen between now and election time that would make people want to vote for an inexperienced single-issue candidate over a 60% approval rating recently former governor?

It doesn't make sense. At least from what I can see. So even if I didn't like Mark Warner, I still don't think I'd vote for Julien Modica because he doesn't seem to be making rational decisions. Not like it matters, because Mark's got in the bag, and I seriously doubt his coffers will be drained by such an un-viable opponent.

I don't think the post was out of line, so thanks Lowell for being an excellent source for news and entertainment.

... to give his issue some visibility.  People do that all the time -- run single issue campaigns that won't win the election but will give that issue some free media time (see: Gail Parker).

He is probably redefining what "victory" means here.  He should know, if he doesn't already, that he stands a 0% chance of winning.  So he is probably running an issues awareness campaign to heighten the visibility of a particular issue, which in this case, seems to be traumatic brain injury in veterans.  

Think Tancredo and immigration or Kucinich and peace.  Anyone really think they have a chance?

I was infuriated when what's her name (I've already forgotten or my brain has deleted the awful memory of her name)  ran in the U.S. Senate Race on the light rail issue.....I got soooooo mad every time I thought about the votes she might be taking from Jim Webb in a race in which she had no chance of winning.  And we all know how razor thin the margin of victory was.  So even though Warner might have to spend a few dollars on the primary, it's not going to cause a catastrophe, and perhaps it will allow him to start getting his message fine tuned for the fall.  It's really not a big deal (Warner could probably spend nothing, particularly in light of recent facts which have emerged....if the guy really continues  at all which seems to be open to speculation).

When you ran your Lexis Nexis search, did you try Julien Dilks?  It appears that some time between 1976 and present, Julien Dilks became Julien Modica.

From the 10/18/94 Roanoke Times:

A Charlottesville man who survived a life-threatening head injury in high school and now heads a national head injury foundation avoided a 14-month prison sentence for bank fraud Monday - thanks to a rambling plea for leniency.

Instead, U.S. District Judge James Turk sentenced Julien Dilks, 35, to 10 days in jail and four years of supervised release after he gets out. Turk also ordered Dilks to repay the $22,508.30 he swindled from two banks and fined him $2,500.

Turk admitted that he came into court intending to impose a 14-month sentence, but changed his mind after Dilks accepted responsibility for his crime and said it wouldn't happen again.

"I have sat in church for hours just wondering what I can do," he told the judge. "I'm sorry it happened ... but there's nothing I can do except pay the money back."

Dilks, now 35, was a high school sophomore in 1976 when a pole-vaulting accident left him in a coma for 13 days. He made a "miraculous" recovery from the accident and went on to earn a master's degree in physics.

In 1987, Dilks founded the JMA Head Injury Foundation in Washington, D.C., which has a mission statement to help head injury victims "by working to modify the current trial-and-error method approach to rehabilitation."

In 1992, however, Dilks devised a bank fraud scheme to help finance the group, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Eckert said.

Eckert said Dilks had numerous checking accounts in banks from Charlottesville to Washington. He would increase the balance of an account at Jefferson National Bank in Charlottesville by writing checks on other empty accounts in his name.

He would then withdraw money from Jefferson National before the checks could bounce.

"He was stealing with a fountain pen," Eckert said.

Eckert said Dilks stole just over $12,100 from Jefferson National and about $10,400 from First America Bank - now First Union National Bank - in Northern Virginia.

Turk convicted Dilks on the one-count fraud indictment in July. The case was heard in Roanoke's federal court.

Monday, the judge at first seemed adamant that Dilks would spend at least a year in prison. But that changed after Dilks told the judge that he wouldn't be able to pay back the money if he was in prison.

"I'm very good at what I do; I'm regarded as a national leader when it comes to brain injuries," he said. "I do well at trying to help people who have suffered injuries similar to mine. ... I'm just not a financial wizard."

And now he's running for U.S. Senate against Mark Warner. As I said, "Holy crap!"

See here for more.  Stick a fork in this one, it's done.

The GOP has standards -- they don't engage in such activity until after they're in office --

Nice nice investigative work --

So,.... here we are. A longtime citizen of Fairfax County puts his hat in the ring to run against Mark Warner. The citizen happens to be me, incidentally. The case all of you seem so interested in has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. It is a none issue or at least it will be.
With the exception of a few of you, no one gives me credit for knowing a problem exists; namely Iraq war veterans with brain injury, and then doing something about it. Yesterday I was a Republican pawn; today I am a criminal; I can't wait to see what I'll be tomorrow. Lowell, are you out of your mind? When Lowell was hanging out in his backyard, I was working harder than Lowell (or for that matter Mark Warner) could even imagine putting myself back together.
My cognitive, physical, and emotional brain injury rehabilitative path is probably the most intense 30+ years of my life. For that alone, Lowell, I deserve a round of applause.
I am not running for U.S. Senate because I am angry at the Fairfax County School Board. Let me make myself CRYSTAL clear. I am running for U.S. Senator from Virginia, because Virginians want a Democrat who has the guts to speak truth to power. Someone who will put their life on the line every single day of their six year term representing the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Lowell, why did you not find the Washington Post article or the numerous Washington Star articles or the Reston Times articles that painstakingly describe my recovery. I assure you, they are all in the sameplace you found your article.
You are a gutless wonder, Lowell, and if you stopped thinking about yourself long enough to experience reality, I can assure you the quality of your reporting would be enhanced.
Let me end on one note. When I was a sophomore in high school I was a varsity quarterback and state champion pole-vaulter. I have set lofty goals all my life, because I believe I can make a difference in this world. I thrive on competition. Lowell, your goofy remarks are not going to affect Virginians who want change. Virginians are concerned about their children's education, illegal immigration, subprime mortgages, and the Iraq war. If they elect me their next Senator, I will work as hard, everyday, on all the issues affecting them as I have on my recovery. That you can take to the bank. Thanks!!!!

we're all out of our minds.  Including the reporters at the Washington Post and everyone else who has the same information about you.

Just because you appealed to the SC does not mean the court will hear your case.  And seeing as the RoTimes article that covers this makes it APPEAR that you admitted you had done wrong and took responsibility, from a legal stand point, there is no way in hell your case gets overturned, pal.

"I deserve a round of applause."  If you're going to get into politics, let me give you some advice; nobody wants to hear that.  You sound whiney, like you're not getting the credit you deserve.  SHOW us why you deserve it, don't tell us that you do.

Next, I respect the tough fight you've had to come back from this injury.  But being injured is NOT a qualification of higher office.  You had a terrible accident.  My condolences.  But the fact is that you have no history that could in the slightest prepare you for this office.  In fact, the only experience you do have proves that you, sir, are a crook.  And just because you were injured does NOT excuse you from that.

As for "Lowell being out of reality".... sir, YOU are out of reality.  Mark Warner is the single greatest thing that has happened to the DPVA in well over a decade.  IF you even manage to make it on the ballot, which I doubt, you will find that you have no support, and that you'll be lucky to break a single percentage point.  Every elected Democrat on every level will support Mark Warner.  Every Democrat who has picked up a newspaper will support Mark Warner.  For the love of the Almighty, sir, I can understand your run.  All you will do is force Warner supporters to drag up records of your shady past, something I'm sure you rather they not do.

Save yourself the pain, the time, and the expense.  Your run is folly in every sense of the word.  In fact, I being to doubt your sanity at the very prospect of a run against Warner.  

Given the nature of your criminal record, I think I would avoid any reference to taking anything to the bank.

Mr. Modica, a.k.a., Julien Dilks, being found guilty of fraud is, indeed, germane to the discussion of whether you are fit for office.

Aside from the lofty goals you have set for yourself and your impressive story of recovery, what makes you think you are qualified to be a US Senator?  Why should someone choose you, an unknown, single-issue candidate with an impressive human interest angle but equally disturbing criminal history over a qualified, ballot-tested, popular former governor with national recognition?

Further, if you really want to mount an effective campaign for Senate, I'd respectfully suggest you work on a much thicker skin.  If your response to Lowell's posts are any indication of your ability to withstand public scrutiny and comment (and stay above the fray), you are going to have a long road ahead.  What Lowell has posted here is nothing compared to what less-friendly media would do to you and what a Republican opponent would do to you.  For one thing, you can bet there will be lots of questions about why you changed your name following your criminal conviction in addition to questions about the conviction itself.  Before you "speak truth to power" you're going to need to speak truth to the electorate.

This name thing needs to be cleared up. I was born in England and my name, at birth, was Julien Modica. In order for me to go to the U.S. Naval Academy (which I did), I became a U.S. citizen and my name became Julien K. Dilks. I changed my name back to Julien Modica, because my father asked me too and that is and was my name.
A thicker skin is all fine and dandy and I appreciate your suggestion, but all so consider the fact that I am being attacked by my own party. I need and want to earn your trust and respect. I encourage you to dig-up material, but, to use a Fox News expression, lets be fair and balanced.
In my life, I have faced numerous obstacles and overcome them all. I used to think that just clean living alone would deflect any criticism, but sometimes you have to fight back.
During the period when I was accused of bank fraud a lot was going on in my life. I was going through a divorce, I just witnessed the birth of twin daughters, my best friend had died, I was in the early stages of building JMA, and I was still recovering, emotionally, from traumatic brain injury.
I was a mess. I knew I did nothing intentionally to defraud anyone or anything, so I allowed things to happen thinking it would all work out...
There are no guarantees I have fixed now, but if the prosecutor does not oppose my petition, and based on my discussions with them last Friday, they probably won't, it is a done deal.
As far as the U.S. Supreme Court is concerned, the Roanoke Times is wrong I have never accepted responsibility for the fraud; only the loss of money. That was a significant point of contention. My attorney now admits he erred on his strategy, but admitting guilt was never in dispute
This is also a precedent setting case. How should the U.S. court system represent the 1000's and 1000's of Iraq war veterans who have suffered brain injury. Limitations must be placed on prosecutorial conduct
The fundamental error in my case was the understanding of the affect brain injury and brain injury rehabilitation has on human bevavior. I think it is clear that the bank's loss was not intentional and that the particular stage of my recovery explains any lack of judgment.
How far Tom Eckert, or any prosecutor for that matter, pushes for a conviction will determine my life and the life of 1000's of Iraq war veterans over the next 20 or 30 years. This issue is dear to my heart, but it directly affects a small subsection of all Virginians.
Let me briefly give an overview of my stand on the major issues:
1.) Employer sanctions must be firmly implemented to discourage further illegal immigration. A hard date should be established that defines citizenship. If you don't meet the definition you are illegal and suffer the consequences. Local jails should be given increased funding in order to expand. If you do meet the definition then you have 24 months to learn English and integrate into American society. This is determined by a test and interview. If you don't pass, you don't meet the definition and you are illegal.
2.) Iraq war, it benefits all Virginians if Iraq becomes a functioning democracy, but this is a political solution not a military solution. Much of the war effort comes out of Virginia; e.g., Pentagon, Newport News, etc., but no foreign policy can be sustained without the informed consent of the American public. U.S. Soldiers must be given an opportunity to return home or transition to the role of a diplomat. These diplomats will help implement the Iraq constitution - a decentralized government. Fragmentation of Iraq will cause a nightmare
3.) Subprime mortgages, Virginians should be given an additional three years before their interest rates ballon. During that time a number of options should become available.
4.) Transportation, the Orange line extension from West Falls Church to Herndon must be completed. My first task will be figuring out how the federal government can help to get this done in the most efficient and cost effective manner.
5.) Education, the single most important quality of life issue is education. GMU, UVa, VaTech, W&M, Madison, EVMS, MCV, UVa Med, etc. Education is an important part of Virginia history and life. It must be made available to each and every citizen.
6.) Health care, I will support fundamental change in the way health care is provided to citizens of Virginia. Universal health care is a strong option. I understand how health care is delivered in Virginia and I can explain how and why the Universal health care option in Virginia is a viable option

Um, now you want us to let you continue to recover in the U.S. Senate?  

Get lost.

Seriously, why are you doing this?  All you're doing is opening yourself up to intense ridicule.  I doubt you even make it on the ballot.

are doing a good job of speaking up about brain injuries among Afghan-Iraq War veterans. It is an issue which is far from being ignored. It strikes me that Mr. Modica's running for office is a peculiar and misguided attempt to garner publicity for himself and his one-issue. Synpathy, yes, but that's the most I can offer him.

Remember how much work that was for Webb?  And we had a great grassroots organization with hundreds, maybe even a thousand, volunteers statewide by that point (Lowell, I can't recall: how many volunteers did we have in March-April?)

Harris Miller got the job done with paid staff and his good connections with local committees, but it cost him something like $50,000 to $100,00, maybe more--I'm guessing.

Mr. Modica/Dilks will never get the signatures he needs unless he's sitting on a lot of cash of his own that he's willing to spend.  

This was an ill-conceived publicity stunt that has already backfired, exposing this man's checkered past and name-change game.

He's already a footnote.

What "stage of recovery" from a brain injury makes felony faud "unintentional"? That's the most absurd false claim  I've ever heard in my life. Carl Rove must be immensely proud of you, and may want to add that one to his infamous play book.

I think that's a sorry excuse for committing felony fraud. And it is a gross insult to the many Iraq war veterans who are sruggling to recover from their brain injuries who don't use brain injury as a justification for committing crimes.

What brain injury recovery stage could have caused you to believe that stealing is unintentional ? Did a psychiatrist tell you that your claim is valid, and if so what was the basis for that conclusion ? Did you have an expert witness testify that what you've claimed might be a fact ? Stealing money to fund a good cause is never acceptable, nor is such a claim a defense allowable in any criminal prosecution -- unless you had used the "not guilty for reason of insanity", which you haven't said was the case.

And you never said why you changed your name from Modica to Dilks. I think I understand why you decided to change your name back to Modica, and I don't blame you for doing that. But what was your reason for not wanting to be known by your family name in the first place ? This question is at the level of trivia since it has no substantial bearing on  the fact that you knowingly committed a felony crime, but it is another example of your reluctance to avoid full and honest disclosure now that you've decided to make some of your personal and private history public.

            Tom Counts, Gainesville, VA

      Proud and honored to have helped elect Jim Webb.

With all due respect Tom, we can go back and forth with this all day long, and that is fine with me, but it is getting us nowhere.
I knew all of my past history, good and bad, would come forward when I decided to run. If not this issue, you would have attacked me because I have a brain injury. The question would have been, "can a man with a brain injury be a U.S. Senator?" That is also a legitimate question, but you would not like my answer to that question either.
Tom, you know very little about the neurological recovery process. I don't expect you to, but making erroneous claims about me that makes it seem like you do, is ridiculous.
Consider the following for a minute: my brain injury is the direct result of Fairfax County School Board sanctioned home-made pole-vaulting equipment. At the 1976 Fairfax County District high school indoor track and field meet, the pole-vaulting box was made out of 2X4's nailed together sitting on top of wrestling mats (I know it sounds unbelieveable, but it is true).
That injury stole what appeared to be a very promising athletic career and forced me to spend the next 25 years in physical, cognitive, and emotional recovery. The architect of the very sordid affair that followed, which denied me any compensation for that gross negligence, is my mother's second husband, Ken Dilks.
Now, how did Mark Warner earn his millions? If you want Virginians to think he earned it, you better start explaining, because I don't see it. It is my understanding, and this is only speculation, that what Warner did is currently illegal. If you or I did what he did, we would be breaking the law.
I'm not being negative; again, assuming everything I have just told you is true, who do you want to be the next Senator from Virginia?

"Now, how did Mark Warner earn his millions? If you want Virginians to think he earned it, you better start explaining, because I don't see it. It is my understanding, and this is only speculation, that what Warner did is currently illegal. If you or I did what he did, we would be breaking the law."

He earned his millions by legally investing in cell phones.  You are more than two kinds of crazy, pal.

And by the way, who do I want to be my next Senator from Virginia?  Mark R. Warner.  

You can whip out all the crazy conspiracy theories you like on Mark Warner, but only one of you two has been convicted of a crime.  And it certainly ain't the Governor.  

While, I believe that you certainly have the right to enter into this race, I don't think WE have to explain Warner's earnings.  If YOU think that he did so illegally, then YOU have to explain that to us.  

I do have a serious question to ask, however.  Almost everybody I know thinks that Mark Warner helps the Democratic down-ticket.  His name on the ballot helps the turn-out for Democrats running for Congress.  How do you think that you can help the other Democrats seeking elected office?

First I don't care about his run for senate because he is a long shot.  I am lucky enough to have my office in the same complex as this nut.  I have listened to him screaming at the women working here.  Not yelling or talking loudly but screaming to the point I was afraid he would get violent.  I almost called 911.  Since I can hear everything he screamed, it seems that he doesn't want to pay his bills either.  I don't know if the brain trauma is an excuse for his outbursts or if he really is so damaged that he is incapable of controlling himself, either way this man has no business being allowed outside unsupervised let alone in the senate.  Also, Mr Modica  or Dilks or whatever your name is.  You know I am telling the truth if you want to challenge me on this I will be glad to upload the audio recording I made from my office of you screaming at the top of your lungs to a lady and we will put that on your youtube page also!  If you ever act like that again I will kick your ass out myself then call the police and have you arrested for disorderly conduct.  I may go swear out a warrant anyway!  Good luck on your campaign.